A group of ten students from the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) has successfully developed a fully automated driverless vehicle as part of their coursework on Autonomous Vehicles. This innovative creation enables the vehicle to operate autonomously, without the need for a human driver.
The project was undertaken by fourth-year BTech students, with nine specializing in Mechanical Engineering and one in Chemical Engineering. Their objective was to transform an electric golf cart into a driverless vehicle capable of navigating the IITGN campus from the hostels to the academic area without human intervention.
The initiative commenced in January 2024, with a budget of approximately Rs 65,000 (excluding the cost of the vehicle and computer). To equip the vehicle with autonomous capabilities, the students integrated various sensors such as a regular camera, a depth camera, and lidar. Additionally, they implemented hardware modifications including a steering mechanism, braking system, and acceleration control, along with computer vision and automatic control algorithms.
These enhancements enabled the vehicle to perform tasks such as lane detection, obstacle detection, automatic steering, braking, and acceleration. The students conducted extensive real-life testing on the roads of the IITGN campus, ensuring safety through multiple backup systems, manual overrides, and emergency stops. During testing, the vehicle maintained a safe speed of 7 kmph.
Professor Harish P M, the course instructor, commended the students for their exceptional achievement, noting the complexity of implementing advanced technologies within a limited timeframe. He expressed optimism about the rapid advancement of autonomous vehicle technology and its potential applications in various controlled environments.
Reflecting on their experience, the students shared their perspectives on the project. Saniya Patwardhan emphasized the enriching nature of the project and the dedication required for its successful completion. She highlighted the challenge of utilizing existing lab resources effectively.
Rahul Pai expressed gratitude for the learning opportunities and collaborative experience gained from the project. He described the satisfaction of witnessing the vehicle navigate autonomously after overcoming numerous obstacles.
Overall, the students’ commitment and hard work enabled them to realize their vision of a self-driving car. They anticipate that future student groups across the nation will be inspired to undertake similar challenges in the field of autonomous vehicle development.
In summary, the development of a fully automated driverless vehicle by the students of IITGN represents a significant accomplishment in the field of autonomous vehicle technology, demonstrating the potential for innovation and advancement in this area.
